Girls Guide to Winter Fun

Decompress from your busy schedule or mom-bligations with a winter weekend with the ladies in Anchorage. Whether you cross-country ski on award-winning trails, trek by snowshoe across quiet backcountry wilderness or carve through powder down alpine slopes, Anchorage is the ultimate winter escape.

DAY 1: COURSE OF ACTION

Morning

Grab snowshoes or Nordic skis and explore Alaska's winter wonderland! Anchorage boasts hundreds of miles of designated multi-use trail systems, not to mention the Eagle River Nature Center. Snowshoe and Nordic ski rentals available in town; and snowshoes are also available at the nature center.

Afternoon

Or take your exploration to new heights on an ice climb! Fit travelers with little or no climbing experience can pick up the basics, while those more advanced can hone their skills during a one-day instructional climb on frozen waterfalls.

Evening

Dine fireside at a local restaurant or curl up with a good book, some hot chocolate or a glass of wine in a quiet cafe. Done stepping in snowshoes but still ready to tap your toes? Catch a local act or Broadway show onstage.

DAY 2: ENJOYABLE AGENDA

Morning

Greet the day at a popular downtown breakfast café before venturing out for a skate. Town Square’s rink is perfect for a quick spin. Westchester Lagoon is great for longer loops or a pick-up game of hockey. Feeling speedy? Head over to Cuddy Family Park and test out the speed skating oval.

Afternoon

Take lunch at the artful museum restaurant; the menu itself could hang in a gallery. Then peruse Alaska art, 10,000 years of history, and the science of the last frontier at the Anchorage Museum.

Evening

Drive up to the Chugach Foothills for an encounter with polar bears, musk oxen, wolves and many other arctic and subarctic animals inhabiting a natural boreal forest at the Alaska Zoo. A popular brewpub is the perfect spot to satisfy a hearty appetite.

DAY 3: POWDER PUFF

Morning

Carve into Anchorage’s endless powder! Skiers and snowboarders can pick from three locations for alpine skiing within 45 minutes of downtown Anchorage – all offering stunning views and the most awesome terrain around.

Afternoon

There’s still terrain out there to be explored! But even a master of all things vertical needs a little grub. Grab a burger or hearty sandwich at the cafeteria, or sneak back into town for a piping hot meal. It’s the perfect warm-up, and you’ll be back on the slopes in no time!

Evening

Après-ski. Okay, we’ve seen your feet in ski boots, but how do they do in dance shoes? Nightlife hotspots for live music include Chilkoot Charlie's and Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse